Toxic Fan 
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 1. Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
When Amazon announced its billion-dollar gamble on “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” fantasy fans worldwide held their breath. Would this be the one series to rule them all, or just another cash grab riding on Tolkien’s coattails? After eight episodes of dwarven beards, harfoot hijinks, and more slow-motion horseback riding than a shampoo commercial, the verdict is in: it’s complicated.
Let’s start with the obvious: “The Rings of Power” is gorgeous. From the sweeping vistas of Númenor to the glittering caves of Khazad-dûm, the show’s budget is evident in every frame. It’s like someone gave a blank check to a group of Tolkien cosplayers and said, “Go nuts.” And go nuts they did.
But here’s the rub: all the CGI in the world can’t compensate for a story that moves slower than an Ent on sedatives. The show’s pacing is more meandering than Frodo’s journey to Mordor, with plot threads that seem more tangled than Galadriel’s hair after a windy day in Valinor.
Speaking of Galadriel, let’s talk about our protagonists. Morfydd Clark’s portrayal is fierce and committed, but this version of Galadriel often comes across as a one-note character whose only settings are “angry” and “angrier.” It’s like watching The Terminator in a blonde wig, minus the charisma.
On the flip side, the Harfoots – clearly meant to be the heart and soul of the show – often feel like they’ve wandered in from a different series entirely. Their whimsical antics, while charming at times, clash jarringly with the more serious plotlines. It’s as if “The Great British Bake Off” suddenly got mixed up with “Game of Thrones.”
As it stands, “The Rings of Power” feels like a tourist’s postcard version of Middle-earth – pretty to look at, but lacking the depth and richness that made Tolkien’s world so beloved. It’s a show that’s great to look at, occasionally fun to watch, but frustratingly short of the greatness it clearly aspires to.
For the Tolkien purists out there (you know who you are), “The Rings of Power” is likely to cause more aneurysms than a marathon of the Hobbit trilogy. The show plays fast and loose with the source material, compressing timelines and inventing characters with the abandon of a fanfiction writer after too many espressos.
Yet, for all its deviations, the show does capture moments of genuine Tolkien-esque wonder. The friendship between Elrond and Durin IV is a highlight, bringing warmth and humor to their scenes. It’s just a shame these moments are often sandwiched between interminable sequences of characters staring pensively into the middle distance.
And then there’s the Sauron of it all. The show’s big mystery – “Who is Sauron?” – drags on for so long that by the end, you half expect the Dark Lord to jump out and yell “Surprise!” like it’s his own birthday party. The eventual reveal, while intriguing, feels more like a relief than a shock.
For all its faults, “The Rings of Power” isn’t a total washout. It’s a visually spectacular, occasionally compelling start to a series that clearly has grand ambitions. The groundwork laid in this first season could potentially lead to greater things, provided the writers remember that even the most epic tales need forward momentum.
As it stands, “The Rings of Power” feels like a tourist’s postcard version of Middle-earth – pretty to look at, but lacking the depth and richness that made Tolkien’s world so beloved. It’s a show that’s great to look at, occasionally fun to watch, but frustratingly short of the greatness it clearly aspires to.
Here’s hoping that in Season 2, the show finds its footing and delivers on its promise. After all, even Frodo stumbled a few times on his way to Mount Doom.
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